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A University of California at Berkeley student has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and aggravated assault and hate crimes for allegedly making homophobic statements to another student, taking the other student's cellphone and then beating him late Tuesday night.

UC Berkeley police said the 19-year-old male victim and the suspect, Joseph Donner, also 19, are acquaintances and were walking to the Moffit Library on campus shortly before midnight on Tuesday when Donner made homophobic statements to the victim and demanded his cellphone.

Police said that when the victim and Donner reached Campbell Hall, Donner ordered the victim to go into the construction area and when the victim refused Donner began beating him.

According to police, Donner repeatedly punched, kicked and choked the victim and then fled the area by running southbound from Campbell Hall.

University police said they then went to Donner's residence and arrested him.